Alpha5 and MySQL on Zebrahost

[GGAllen]

I have just signed up with Zebrahost. They installed my Alpha5 server licence and MySQL for me on my server but I can't figure out how to build a connection string to it.
They suggested I have to run a number of commands like GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* TO 'USER'@'IPADDRESS' IDENTIFIED BY 'pass'; in order to access it from my machine.
This doesn't make sense to me since I don't have a fixed IP address and neither do my clients who will use the application.
I'm sure this is a dumb question but it's my first attempt at this. Any help would be appreciated.

[GGandhi]

Re: Alpha5 and MySQL on Zebrahost

hello

i do not have zebra host account but have one at godaddy. the way i have done accessing the database is as follows.
the set up of mysql database at the isp required the user name and password. and the host address can be found out from the hosting account panel.
then use this information in alpha five for the connection string. i use navicat lite for managing the mysql and i use the same information in navicat to connect and manage the database.
since alpha five and navicat are accessing the data at the isp site you don't have to worry about granting privileges to another user at your computer.

hope this helps.

[GGAllen]

Re: Alpha5 and MySQL on Zebrahost

I think my problem may be that MySql is not set up properly on the remoter server.
Running MySQL Workbench on the remote server:
under Server Administration it shows Local MySql; Local Type: Windows.
under Open Connection to Start Querying it shows: Local Instance MySql; User root Host: localhost:3306
Do I need a NEW Connection or a New Server Instance or nothing.
Under Security I have:
User root from Host localhost and
User Administrator From Host %
A video showing how to set up a remote MySql sure would be useful!
Garry

[Sparticuz]

Re: Alpha5 and MySQL on Zebrahost

You shouldn't be connecting from your development machine to your production machine database. I have mysql install on both my dev box and my production server. I then use MySQL workbench to alter my schemas, then I sync the schemas using drop and alter commands to keep them in sync (when I need to update my databases schemas). Otherwise, I just make sure both my dev and production have the same settings which means the same connection string. You can create a connection string inside Alpha Five. In the web control panel, go to Tools->AlphaDAO Connections, then New. From there, you can create as many connection strings as you need. (Probably only one).

EDIT: Again, just to stress the point, I would never develop using live data... you're just asking for trouble...

[GGandhi]

Re: Alpha5 and MySQL on Zebrahost

I think my problem may be that MySql is not set up properly on the remoter server.
Running MySQL Workbench on the remote server:
under Server Administration it shows Local MySql; Local Type: Windows.
under Open Connection to Start Querying it shows: Local Instance MySql; User root Host: localhost:3306
Do I need a NEW Connection or a New Server Instance or nothing.
Under Security I have:
User root from Host localhost and
User Administrator From Host %
A video showing how to set up a remote MySql sure would be useful!
Garry

hello
even tho' i don't use zebra host, the setup seem okay. if you have local development machine and have alpha five and mysql installed then you develop locally and make sure everything works well and publish all should be fine since the connection string need not be changed at the server. i agree don't mix development and live data, you will regret. all testing finalizing should be done locally and uploaded (published) to the remote server. if you create and add data locally to the mysql database there has to a mechanism in workbench to dump the file and execute at the zebra host( similar to navicat)
hope this helps.

addendum: i am sure you know not to use root account all the time for managing the database. keep the root name and password for your use only. create another user with all the privileges with minor restrictions like creating user etc., and use that account in your program not the root account. in that way malicious activity can be controlled.

[GGAllen]

Re: Alpha5 and MySQL on Zebrahost

I'm not developing on the server. The original app was written in Clipper (by me) and I converted it to MySql on my local machine. Now I want to transer it to the Zebrahost server.
Publishing the app from my machine to the server seems to work ok although the behavior on the server isn't the same as I get on my local server. (seem to be some publishing glitches).
I finally got my data to the server by uploading an sql script and running it on the server.
I can't connect to the remote MySql server from Alpha5 (in the Data Explorer, for instance) or from my Local MySqlWorkBench.

[cavj1]

Re: Alpha5 and MySQL on Zebrahost

Navicat is pretty useful for updating local and remote databases. I think you can download a fully functional trial.

[GGandhi]

Re: Alpha5 and MySQL on Zebrahost

I can't connect to the remote MySql server from Alpha5 (in the Data Explorer, for instance) or from my Local MySqlWorkBench.

I think you will need to create an user in the server mysql with your ip address(acknowledge that might change) and allow the user to access if you want to access that mysql database from outside. but the easiest will be to have your data in your local machine and like i do dump a sql file, upload that file and execute in that server the data will be exactly same as in your local machine. i do not know workbench but in navicat lite, (free edition) that i use, it is simple.

[Chet Sapino]

Re: Alpha5 and MySQL on Zebrahost

You can do replication from your desktop machine to the remote server database. Any and all changes you make on the desktop machine schema and data will be immediately replicated to the remote server. I replicate my master server to two other instances on two desktops. Every change on either development machine is replicated instantly from the master server to both desktops.

There is no problem doing development on a remote server with this scheme. That way you can get an idea of performance in the real world. Developing on the desktop is not the real world. Plus you can do a dump of the entire schema and data into a single file on the master server in a matter of minutes using MySQL Workbench. Once you have the dump file. All your data is safe and can be uploaded to wherever you want in minutes.

[GGandhi]

Re: Alpha5 and MySQL on Zebrahost

hello

replication is something i have not done (i was not aware), after reading your post, read about it in mysql documents. seems excellent.
thanks. i will certainly learn and adopt.

[Chet Sapino]

Re: Alpha5 and MySQL on Zebrahost

You have to have the ip of the zebrahost computer that your database is installed on to connect to it and port 3306 (the default port) has to be opened up by ZebraHost's router on that computer. You can use this: http://www.yougetsignal.com/tools/open-ports/ to check whether the port is open on that computer where your database is installed by typing in its IP. Once you verify this and have the IP info, you should be able to connect with your user ID and password.

Test it in A5 by creating a new connection using root and the root password.

The remote computer's ip is entered on the MySQL connection screen in place of localhost. Enter your user ID and password. Press the connect button and you should get Succeeded.

Once you can connect, you can use MySQL Workbench to connect to the remote database using the Manage Security area on the right of the Home Screen using the root password. Create a new user name and password. Under the Administrative Roles Tab in Workbench select DBA for the new user which gives you all privileges. You can also put in the IP of your computer which will limit the connection to that database to you only, or you can leave it blank. I would leave it blank.

You can easily host an alpha server in your house/office quite inexpensively if you have cable internet. I use the Abyss Pro web server software (~$60). You can run multiple websites with this. Using a quad or 6 core processor running at around 2.5-3 GHz you get excellent performance. You can use a Windows 7 Home Premium machine such as an HP and set it up with a good backup-disaster recovery system quite cheaply. I use a GHz router with GHz NICS on all my machines. My cable broadband speed is around 18-20 mbps.

[Chet Sapino]

Re: Alpha5 and MySQL on Zebrahost

You can download a great freeware tool from Quest Software (www.quest.com) called "Toad for MySQL" for managing just about every aspect of a MySQL database. It has much more capability than Workbench.

[GGAllen]

Re: Alpha5 and MySQL on Zebrahost

Thanks Chet (and others who responded). I already have Toad installed. Everything is working ok now.
My problem with remote connection was that port 3306 was blocked.
Garry

[aburningflame]

Re: Alpha5 and MySQL on Zebrahost

+1 on Toad.
Toad Schema Sync is kind of overkill. (I prefer the simpler MySQL WorkBench Synchronize)

But i would be nowhere without Toad Data Compare.

[jmsilva]

Re: Alpha5 and MySQL on Zebrahost

Do not see a solution in this thread to the connectivity issue and I had the same problem. My solution was to configure the AlphaDao connection as LOCALHOST. Once that was done everything worked.